BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 403 
where, at the seasons alluded to, they may almost always 
be met with."* This was prior to 1842, and in subsequent 
years the visits of the species have become less frequent. 
In 1885 William Hastings records a Ruff in winter- 
plumage shot near Caerlaverock.f This specimen, in reahty 
a Reeve, and a bird of the year, was shot on October 21st, 
1885, so I am informed by Mr. R. Service, in whose collection 
it now is; and he tells me that more than one specimen of the 
Reeve had been sent to Hastings from Caerlaverock in 
previous years. An immature Ruff was shot by the late 
Lord Herries on Blackshaw bank on September 18th, 1885, 
and is now (1910) at Kinharvie. A Ruff was shot near the 
shore not far from Caerlaverock, on October 30th, 1905, by 
Myles Quinn, head-keeper on Lord Herries' estate. It was 
the first he had ever seen in the district, but he thought that 
in the past some three or four had been got at various timesj : 
this specimen is now in the collection of Mr. R. Service. 
From the end of May till September, 1907, a party of four, 
and sometimes five. Ruffs and Reeves, was seen on and about 
the merse-lands from Glencaple up to Netherwood, and as 
often on the opposite shore of the Nith estuary on the 
\ Kirkconnell estate. No nest was discovered, but the Ruffs 
were in their characteristic breeding-plumage, and often 
indulged in those ostentatious sham-fights which have 
1 gained for this species the cognomen of pagnax. Their 
\ prolonged visit at this season was possibly attributable to 
I the exceptionally wet and cold weather then experienced, 
j Mr. J. M. Haining shot a Reeve at Eastpark (Caerlaverock) 
' on September 15th, 1908, and it is now in his possession. 
It will be observed that all the specimens recorded, hail 
\ from Caerlaverock, and a Ruff in my collection believed to 
I have been obtained near Capenoch (Keir) about 1880, is of 
j doubtful origin. A Rough-legged Buzzard, which had been 
j trapped that year, was stuffed standing over a Ruff ; the 
* Nat Lib., 1842, Vol. XII., pp. 225, 226. 
t Trans. D. and O. Nat. Hist. Soc, December 4th, 1885. 
t R. Service, op. cit., November 3rd, 1905. 
cc 2 
